Broadcasts

A broadcast sends one message to a whole list of contacts at once. In Chato, broadcasts run through WhatsApp Business API (WABA) — that's a WhatsApp requirement: bulk sending outside the 24-hour window is only possible using approved Meta templates, and only for the official channel.

How to send a broadcast

1. Open WABA broadcast.
2. Pick an approved message template (or create a new one — see Message templates and auto-replies).
3. Upload a list of recipients or pick a contact segment.
4. Check the preview and launch the send.

How a large broadcast runs

A base of thousands of numbers does not go out in one burst. Sending is spread over time by two settings, both chosen at launch.

The working window is the hours when sending is allowed at all. Reach the end of it and the broadcast sleeps, then continues by itself in the morning. This is what keeps a message from arriving at midnight.

The daily limit is how many messages go out per day. It exists so a base of thirteen thousand numbers does not look like a spam spike to Meta: a sharp jump in volume lowers the number’s quality rating.

Neither pause changes the broadcast status or needs it restarted.

Cost

Every message sent through a broadcast is billed at Meta's rate — the price depends on the recipient's country and the template's category (marketing, utility, or a support conversation) and is charged separately from the channel's subscription fee. The current cost per category is shown before you launch the broadcast, on the confirmation screen.

Delivery status

Once launched, the broadcast shows a status per recipient — delivered, read, or failed (for example, the number doesn't use WhatsApp). It's the same delivery status you'd see for a regular message in a conversation.